Eddie Leon Allen

February 5, 1953 - May 7, 2013

Eddie Leon Allen, also known as Chief (CMSGT) Allen was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 5, 1953 to the proud parents of Eddie & Lillie Allen. He confessed Christ at an early age at Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church, (Chicago, IL), under the leadership of Pastor Harris. He graduated from Gage Park High School in Chicago, Illinois on June 26, 1970. During his high school years he participated in ROTC; always knowing he planned to go serve his country upon graduation. Eddie Allen enlisted in the United States Air Force on February 29, 1970 and retired as the USAF Medical Services Enlisted Career Field Functional Manager for Mental Health and the Manager of the Mental Health Flight for the 74th Medical Operations Squadron, from Wright Patterson Air Force Base on October 1, 2000. Chief Allen dedicated 30 years of his life to the national defense of our country. He was a decorated combat veteran of both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster. His active duty assignments included: NKP Royal Thailand AFB; Phan Rang AB (South Vietnam), Tansonhut AB (Saigon, Vietnam), Grissom AFB, (Peru, Indiana), George AFB (Victorville, California), Hickam AFB (Honolulu, Hawaii), Maxwell AFB, (Montgomery, Alabama), Torrejon AFB (Madrid, Spain) and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Fairborn, Ohio).

After retiring from the USAF, Chief Allen became the founder and president of Allen and Associates, Inc. A local human resource's training corporation. His was also a very active member of his community serving on:• The State of Ohio's Suicide Prevention Foundation, Executive Board Member• Montgomery County's Suicide Prevention Coalition, Chairperson • Montgomery County's Alcohol, Drug Addictions and Mental Health Services, Board Member• Dayton Public Schools: Fathers are Parents Too Program, Consultant and Presenter • Toastmasters International, Kitty Hawk Chapter, Past Area Governor, Club President and VP • Southwest Ohio Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Crisis Counselor

Chief Allen was an Adjunct Professor at Wright State University's School of Professional Development. He also taught Multicultural Counseling to Graduate Students at the University of Dayton and Cultural Diversity and Effective Healthcare Management at Kettering's College of Medical Arts. In addition, he taught Leadership, Diversity and Ethics to Young Scholars at Sinclair Community College in Dayton.

He holds two Master's Degrees, one in Counseling and Human Development from Troy State University and another from the University of Central Michigan in Personnel Management and Supervision. He also has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology with a minor in Religion and Sociology from Chaminade University of Honolulu and four Associates Degrees. He has earned numerous civic, scholastic and academic achievement awards, including the prestigious Chicago Tribune's gold and silver medals for his unprecedented community participation. He was honored by the City of Chicago and presented with a rare certificate of recognition from the Mayor of Chicago. In addition, he is the 2002 and 2007 recipient of the Bernadette Schell Leadership Award recognizing his outstanding contributions to the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addictions and Mental Health Services Board. Moreover, he is a 2004 recipient of Dayton's Top Ten African American Males Award. He also conducted Youth Leadership, Anger Management and Self-Esteem Training programs for preteens and teens living in West Dayton, sponsored by NAACP-Act So Community Outreach Center. Chief Allen, also, assisted the National Conference for Community and Justice, with their elementary, middle school, and high school Bias and Prejudice Reduction Programs. He facilitated Public School Fatherhood and Male Involvement Programs, Suicide Prevention trainings for community agencies and schools, bereavement program for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He was also a faithful member and leader to Maranatha Bible Church.